Denmark overhauls conscription with 11-month gender-neutral model to defend Greenland and deter Russia

Published Aug 6, 07:00 AM UTC

Denmark has begun the full rollout of an 11-month, gender-neutral conscription model designed to turn recruits into operational soldiers, driven by Russia's war in Ukraine and growing tensions with the United States over Greenland. On 3 August 2026, roughly 1,600 volunteers reported to 14 military sites as the first full cohort since a February pilot. The new model replaces the previous four-month term with five months of basic training and six months of operational service. Women turning 18 from July 2025 onward now enter the same assessment and lottery system as men, with women already accounting for about 20 percent of the 2026 intake. By 2033, Denmark aims to draft at least 6,500 conscripts annually. The reform includes a new drone platoon under Special Operations Command. The most politically sensitive early test will be in Greenland, where over 100 conscripts will join Exercise Arctic Endurance for guard duties and cold-weather training, following US demands for control of Greenland.